diff --git a/doc/usage.md b/doc/usage.md
index ba1c238a..5af3b330 100644
--- a/doc/usage.md
+++ b/doc/usage.md
@@ -298,6 +298,14 @@ For more information see https://github.com/wader/fq
 
 Usage: fq [OPTIONS] [--] [EXPR] [FILE...]
 
+Example usages:
+  fq . file
+  fq d file
+  fq tovalue file
+  cat file.cbor | fq -d cbor torepr
+  fq 'grep("^main$") | parent' /bin/ls
+  fq 'grep_by(format == "exif") | d' *.png *.jpeg
+
 --arg NAME VALUE         Set variable $NAME to string VALUE
 --argjson NAME JSON      Set variable $NAME to JSON
 --color-output,-C        Force color output
diff --git a/pkg/interp/interp.jq b/pkg/interp/interp.jq
index bb352a54..a13f7603 100644
--- a/pkg/interp/interp.jq
+++ b/pkg/interp/interp.jq
@@ -300,6 +300,14 @@ def _main:
       , ""
       , _usage($arg0)
       , ""
+      , "Example usages:"
+      , "  fq . file"
+      , "  fq d file"
+      , "  fq tovalue file"
+      , "  cat file.cbor | fq -d cbor torepr"
+      , "  fq 'grep(\"^main$\") | parent' /bin/ls"
+      , "  fq 'grep_by(format == \"exif\") | d' *.png *.jpeg"
+      , ""
       , args_help_text(_opt_cli_opts)
       ) | println
     elif $opts.show_version then
diff --git a/pkg/interp/testdata/args.fqtest b/pkg/interp/testdata/args.fqtest
index c6071fa8..f93fce01 100644
--- a/pkg/interp/testdata/args.fqtest
+++ b/pkg/interp/testdata/args.fqtest
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ For more information see https://github.com/wader/fq
 
 Usage: fq [OPTIONS] [--] [EXPR] [FILE...]
 
+Example usages:
+  fq . file
+  fq d file
+  fq tovalue file
+  cat file.cbor | fq -d cbor torepr
+  fq 'grep("^main$") | parent' /bin/ls
+  fq 'grep_by(format == "exif") | d' *.png *.jpeg
+
 --arg NAME VALUE         Set variable $NAME to string VALUE
 --argjson NAME JSON      Set variable $NAME to JSON
 --color-output,-C        Force color output